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Archives for June 2017

US not winning in Afghanistan: Defense Secretary

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jim-mattis

Washington: US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that the United States is still “not winning” the longest war in Afghanistan.

“We are not winning in Afghanistan right now,” Mattis here on Tuesday at a congressional hearing, adding: “And we will correct this as soon as possible,” Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Mattis, the Pentagon defines the winning in Afghanistan as a situation where the Afghan government, with international help, would be able to handle the violence and drive it down to a level that local security forces can handle it.

“It would probably require residual force doing training and maintaining the high-end capability,” said Mattis. “It’s going to be an era of frequent skirmishing and it’s going to require a change in our approach from the last several years if we’re to get it to that position.”

Mattis was not the first senior official of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to publicly warn of a dire prospect for the security situation in Afghanistan.

US National Intelligence Director Dan Coats also warned last month that the security situation in Afghanistan would most likely deteriorate in the future even if the United States and its allies offer more military aid.

The warnings came as Trump was reportedly considering whether or not to send additional hundreds of US troops to Afghanistan.

Former US President Barack Obama had planned to reduce the current number of 9,800 US troops in Afghanistan to some 5,500 by the end of 2015 and withdraw all troops by the end of 2016 when his presidency came to an end.

However, given the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Obama administration repeatedly postponed the withdrawal.

Currently, there are about 8,400 US troops and another 5,000 forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the ground in Afghanistan to train and assist the Afghan forces against the Taliban, and conduct counter-terrorism missions.

(IANS)

Several killed as huge blaze engulfs London tower block

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london-fire-Grenfell Tower

London: Several people have died and over 50 people have been hospitalized after a huge fire ripped through a 24-storey London apartment block early on Wednesday, according to emergency services.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at Grenfell Tower, an apartment block located in the neighbourhood of Kensington, shortly after Tuesday midnight, reports Efe news.

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said that a number of people are thought to have died.

“I am very sad to confirm that there have been a number of fatalities. I cannot confirm the number at this time due to the size and complexity of this building. It would clearly be wrong for me to speculate further.

“In my 29 years of being a firefighter I have never ever seen anything of this scale,” Cotton said.

Councilor Nick Paget-Brown, who represents the area in which Grenfell Tower is located, said the tower block contains some 120 individual apartments, many of which house young families, meaning the number of people trapped by the blaze could run into the hundreds.

Some 200 firefighters and 40 fire trucks were deployed to the scene and emergency workers were battling to get the fire under control.

London’s Ambulance Service (LAS) said over 50 patients had been taken to five different hospitals across London following the blaze.

LAS Assistant Director Stuart Crichton said: “Over 100 of our medics are working hard to respond to this incident, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, advanced trauma teams from London’s Air Ambulance and those staff managing the incident in our special operations centre.”

Investigators were working to establish the cause of the blaze.

London’s Metropolitan Police, who also confirmed that there had been several fatalities, said that “a number of people” were being treated for a range of injuries and smoke inhalation and that “residents were continuing to be evacuated” from the tower.

Police have closed off roads nearby and asked people to avoid the area.

An earlier report said that at least 600 people were believed to have been inside the flats when the fire began.

Residents who escaped spoke of others trapped and screaming for help, with some holding children from windows and others jumping from upper floors, the Telegraph newspaper reported.

Pictures from the scene showed flames engulfing the block and a plume of smoke visible across the capital, while others showed residents looking out of windows in the block.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called it a “major incident”.

Paul Munakr, who lives on the seventh floor, managed to escape.

“As I was going down the stairs, there were firefighters, truly amazing firefighters that were actually going upstairs, to the fire, trying to get as many people out of the building as possible,” he told the BBC.

A witness, Jody Martin, said: “I watched one person falling out, I watched another woman holding her baby out the window… hearing screams.”

(IANS)

Keep dreaming, taunts Vijay Mallya as India fails to give UK court evidence

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Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

London: Vijay Mallya, the embattled tycoon wanted in India on loan defaults to several banks amounting to nearly Rs 9,000-crore, Tuesday claimed he has “enough evidence” to plead his case and taunted authorities saying, “you can keep dreaming about a billion pounds”.

“I deny all allegations that have been made and I will continue to deny them,” said the 61-year-old flamboyant boss of the erstwhile Kingfisher airlines, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court here for his extradition case hearing.

Chief Magistrate Emma Louise Arbuthnot granted bail to Mallya until December 4. The next hearing has been set for July 6.

“I have not eluded any court…I have enough evidence to prove my case,” Mallya told reporters outside the court.

“I dont make statements to the media because anything I say is twisted. There is enough evidence, that will speak,” said Mallya, who was accompanied to court by his son Siddharth Mallya, a female companion and a small group of supporters.

Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard in April and has been out on bail, which was further extended until December 4 — also tentatively fixed as the final date of hearing in the case.

Mallya claimed that no loans were diverted anywhere.

“You can keep dreaming about a billion pounds; you cannot prove anything without facts,” Mallya told reporters.

Arbuthnot, who presided over what is referred to as a “case management hearing”, said, “Make sure you do not break any conditions of your bail. If you do so, you will be back in custody.”

Mallyas defence team, which is being led by the firm Joseph Hague Aaronson LLP, said a second extradition request is expected from the Indian government.

In the dock at Court Room 3 of Westminster Magistrates Court, Mallya spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth — 18 December, 1955.

The judge set July 6 as the next hearing date for further case management matters but Mallya was exempted from attending that hearing after his defence team claimed he was “swarmed by media cameras” on his entry to the court today.

“It was literally a battle to get into court,” said Mallyas lawyer barrister Ben Watson.

He urged the judge to put barriers for the media outside the court for future hearings, to which the judge responded by excusing Mallya from the next court appearance while she looks into her authority to impose such barriers.

Britains Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), represented by Aaron Watkins, presented the case in court on behalf of the Indian authorities and pushed for a final hearing date in December.

“We have a good and close working relationship (with the Indian government) in this case,” Watkins told the judge when asked if, “India is quite prompt in their responses”.

Mallyas defence team wanted a final hearing date in March or April 2018, claiming they are yet to receive the “final evidence” from the Indian authorities and also believe a second extradition request is coming.

The second request is believed to be related to the Enforcement Directorates (ED) case against Mallya.

CPS argued that the government of India will deal responsibly with any future extradition request and that a conclusion of the current case by December was preferable.

The judge settled on December 4 as the final hearing date, which will be reviewed at the next hearing in July.

“If all the ducks are in a row by then, we will proceed with December,” the judge said.

“There might be a few more hearings in this case in the coming months to deal with case management or any issues that arise, before the final hearing takes place, at which the full arguments from both sides in this case will be heard by the Judge,” explained Jasvinder Nakhwal, partner at Peters and Peters Solicitors LLP and member of the UKs Extradition Lawyers Association.

The CPS had met a joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in London last month to thrash out details of the case.

“Our aim is to build a strong, infallible case and these meetings will help resolve issues across the table. The CPS will be arguing based on documents provided by CBI and ED, therefore a joint team is here to address queries they may have,” official sources had said after the meeting held in early May.

A CBI official also flew in from Delhi for todays hearing.

Mallya also slammed the media for its “frenzy”.

“I go to cheer India in a cricket match and it becomes a media frenzy. Its better I dont say anything,” he said, adding that two people, in a drunken state, called him a “thief” outside the stadium. “There were many who wished me well.”

Last week, Mallya was welcomed with chants of “chor, chor” by Indian cricket fans as he arrived to watch the India vs South Africa Champions Trophy match at The Oval cricket ground in London.

Earlier, he had caused a stir by his attendance at the India vs Pakistan match in Birmingham after which he had declared on Twitter that he would be attending all India matches in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Mallya, who is wanted in India for Kingfisher Airlines default on loans worth nearly Rs 9,000-crore, has been in the UK since March 2016 and was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant on April 18.

He had attended a central London police station for his arrest and was released on conditional bail a few hours later after providing a bail bond worth 650,000 pounds, assuring the court of abiding by all conditions associated with extradition proceedings, such as the surrender of his passport and a ban on him possessing any travel documents.

An initial case management hearing date of May 17 was postponed to June 13.

If the District Judge rules in favour of extradition at the end of the trial, the UK home secretary must order Mallyas extradition within two months of the appropriate day. However, the case can go through a series of appeals before arriving at a conclusion.

India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty, signed in 1992, but so far only one extradition has taken place under the arrangement — Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India last October to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

However, unlike Mallya, he had submitted to the extradition order without legal challenge.

(PTI)

UP man denied ambulance, carries home dead body of 7-month-old niece

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Dana Majhi

Kaushambi: In a re-run of the Dana Majhi incident, the uncle of a seven-month-old girl, who died during treatment at the district hospital, had to carry her body on a bicycle as his plea for an ambulance fell on deaf ears.

The incident, which took place on Monday, prompted the authorities to lodge an FIR against the doctor on duty and the driver of the ambulance on Tuesday. The hospital too has launched an inquiry in this regard.

Seven-month-old Poonam, the daughter of Anant Kumar, a daily wage labourer of Malak Saddi village in Majhanpur tehsil in the district, was admitted to the hospital two days ago after she started vomiting, accompanied by loose motion.

After getting her admitted to the hospital, Kumar left for Allahabad to arrange money for her treatment asking his brother-in-law, Brijmohan, to look after her.

“My niece died during treatment on Monday. Despite repeated pleas to the hospital, no vehicle was made available to carry her body. I had to borrow a bicycle and carry it for almost 10 km to reach the village,” Brijmohan told reporters.

When contacted, S K Upadhyay, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kaushambi, said, “We have taken cognisance of the incident. An inquiry has also been initiated.

Once the report of the inquiry is available, we will take stringent action against the guilty.” Hospital sources claimed that an ambulance could not be arranged as there was no budget for fuel. District Magistrate, Kaushambi, Manish Kumar, told that an FIR was lodged against the doctor on duty, Vivek Kumar, and the ambulance driver, Ashish Kumar Pandey, who allegedly refused to carry the body.

On May 20, the pregnant wife of a man from Chak Ahmadipur village in the district was declared “brought dead” by the hospital authorities. As he was denied an ambulance, the man carried the body of his wife on a stretcher for some distance. Subsequently, sensing trouble, the doctors at the hospital arranged for an ambulance to transport the body.

In a similar incident, Dana Majhi, a tribal, had to carry his wife’s body on his shoulder for over 10 km, with his daughter walking alongside, in Odisha’s Kalahandi district in August, last year as the hospital authorities failed to arrange for a hearse.

The incident had triggered a controversy and led to widespread criticism after it was reported in the media. Last month, a labourer had to carry the body of his 15- year-old son on his shoulders after allegedly being turned away by the doctors at a government-run hospital in Etawah.

(PTI)

Kumaraswamy denied anticipatory bail in illegal mining case

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Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister and state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy was today denied anticipatory bail by a special court here in an illegal mining case.

Lokayukta Court judge Gopal rejected the prayer of Kumaraswamy, who has been summoned by the Lokayukta’s special investigation team in connection with the case.

Kumaraswamy, the son of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, is accused of putting immense pressure on the then Commissioner of Mines, Gangaram Baderiya, to clear afile in favour of Janthakal mining firm in 2007, when he was the chiefminister.

Baderiya, now the principal secretary (revenue), was arrested by the SIT on May 15 for allegedly allowing the firm to illegally lift one million tonnes of mined ore in Chitradurga based on forged documents.

The SIT has summoned Kumaraswamy, following the arrest of Baderiya. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said he had no role in the case and would come out clean. “I do not have any role in this case… My legal team will bail me out… I will prove myselfinnocent,” the state chief of the Janata Dal (Secular) said.

Earlier, Kumaraswamy had accused the Congress government of targeting him ahead ofthe 2018 Assembly polls.

(Agencies)

Laysla De Oliveira joins Code 8

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Laysla De Oliveira

Laysla De Oliveira joins Code 8

Laysla De Oliveira is all set to co – star opposite Robbie Amell & Stephen Amell in the sci – fi thriller Code 8. The film, to be directed by Jeff Chan, is currently in production. It is set in a world where 4% of the population is born with varying supernatural abilities, known as “specials”, who are impoverished and face discrimination, often resorting to crime.

Colton Haynes Come Out As Gay

Colton Haynes has recently averred that coming out as gay has changed his life for the better as he no longer has to hide who he is. Colton Haynes had made the confession during an interview in May, 2016, and has said that whilst it took him awhile to be comfortable enough to speak about his sexuality, he is now “proud” of it.

Julia Stiles Is pregnant

Julia Stiles & her fiance Preston J. Cook are expecting their 1st ever child together. The couple is expecting to welcome their baby into the world later this year.

Todd Fisher Praises Taylor Lautner

Carrie Fisher’s brother Todd Fisher said he is proud of Taylor Lautner for supporting Billie Lourd in tough times. Taylor Lautner has been by Billie Lourd’s side since the demise of her mother Carrie & grandmother Debbie Reynolds.

Cameron Diaz On A Break From Films

She is one of the most popular movie stars in Hollywood, but after 2014’s musical Annie, Cameron Diaz decided to give films a break. The diva averred that she took time off from movies as she was tired of traveling every day to the sets and wanted to focus on her personal life.

Meryl Streep To Enact The Role Of Mary Poppins Cousin

Veteran actress Meryl Streep will play Topsy, cousin of Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns. Director, Rob Marshall said that the Oscar – winning actress, whom he worked with in Into The Woods, was drawn to his 2018 movie because of its message of optimism.

Josh Brolin Reveals His Beefed Up Look

Josh Brolin is ripped and all set for the sequel of Deadpool. Josh Brolin took to Instagram to share the pictures & the videos of him working out over the weekend. In one video, the Everest star is seen pumping iron and includes the hashtag #ryanreynoldsismyb**ch.

Steve Carell & Bryan Cranston’s Last Flag Flying To Open A Fest

Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying is all set to open this year’s New York Film Festival. The Amazon title will make its world premiere at Alice Tully Hall on 28th Sept, 2017 as the opening night film of the fest. The movie stars Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston & Laurence Fishburne in pivotal roles.

Gwyneth Paltrow Forms A Dream Girl Band

Cameron Diaz, designers Nicole Richie, Tory Burch & Gwyneth Paltrow promoted girl power over the weekend at their In Goop Health event with a handful of celebrity friends. Gwyneth Paltrow shared a backstage photo of herself with Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie & Tory Burch, with lavalier mics before their group talk.

Sam Taylor – Johnson Will Never Work With E. L. James

Sam Taylor – Johnson, who directed Fifty Shades Of Grey’ movie, is still “confused” over why E. L. James apparently did not like her and said she will never work with her again. In fact Sam Taylor – Johnson had a feud with the author while working on the movie adaptation of the book.

Colton Haynes Come Out As Gay

Colton Haynes has recently averred that coming out as gay has changed his life for the better as he no longer has to hide who he is. Colton Haynes had made the confession during an interview in May, 2016, and has said that whilst it took him awhile to be comfortable enough to speak about his sexuality, he is now “proud” of it.

Early Recognition Made Alexander Skarsgard “Uncomfortable”

Alexander Skarsgard averred that he was “uncomfortable” when he became a recognized actor at an early age. Alexander Skarsgard had appeared in his 1st ever film Ake And His World at the age of 7, avers, that he did not believe the attention was genuine.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dinner date with Tobey Maguire

Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted spending quality time with his best friend & actor Tobey Maguire recently. They were photographed as they stepped out for dinner with Toby Maguire’s estranged wife Jennifer Meyer on the night of 11th Jun, 2017.

Colin Trevorrow Makes A Promise

Colin Trevorrow is Hollywood’s latest man to handle the big franchises. 1st, it was 2015’s reboot of “Jurassic” franchise, Jurassic World and now he is all set to direct Episode IX of possibly the biggest movie franchises ever, Star Wars. In fact director Colin Trevorrow in a recent interview, has promised that Episode IX will be an “emotionally resonant” finale to the new trilogy. He said, “I mean, these are the best minds available and everybody’s engaged in making sure this is the most satisfying & emotionally resonant conclusion that we can possibly deliver.”

George Clooney & Amal Clooney Hire “Baby Bouncers”

George Clooney & his wife Amal Clooney
have hired “baby bouncers” for their less than one – week – old daughter Ella and son Alexander. The couple is planning to spend more on security to protect their family. 1st on the list is a pair of bodyguards for the newborns – costing 250,000 pounds a year. A source close to the family said “Fatherhood was a long time coming for George Clooney, so he’s not risking his brood coming to any harm. The “baby bouncers” are just the start.”

Chris Evans Was Scared

Chris Evans averred that he was initially intimidated by the scale of the Marvel movies and was sceptical about their success. Chris Evans played Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “One of my biggest fears was that the movies were going to be good. Because if things worked out, I’d have to do all six of them,” Evans stated.

Diane Keaton Wants James Norton

Veteran actress Diane Keaton has backed actor James Norton to play James Bond when Daniel Craig eventually steps down. As Diane Keaton has praised her Hampstead co – star, who plays her son in the upcoming movie. “Don’t you think he’s going to be the next James Bond? We were all talking about it on the sets of Hampstead. He ticks every box – he’s beautiful, he’s a man, he’s very sexy, he is smart & he even went to Cambridge,” Diane Keaton opined.

Claire King Worries About Becoming A Burden

Claire King has revealed how caring for her disabled parents & a period of ill health has shaped her views on euthanasia. Claire King recently averred that she would consider euthanasia before becoming a burden on those around her. “I do worry about when I’m older & becoming a burden on people around me.” “I can understand why people choose assisted dying – and it’s getting to the point where I would consider it myself,” she added. The actress hasn’t got any children, though along with her brother Piers, 52, she helps care for her parents, who are both disabled.

Both Angelina Jolie & Jessica Chastain Are In The Running

Angelina Jolie & Jessica Chastain are both being considered for a mystery role in X -Men: Dark Phoenix, the much awaited 20th Century Fox Marvel Comics adaptation slated for a 2018 release. It was earlier rumored that Angelina Jolie would direct “Captain Marvel” for Marvel Studios, but the whispers died a natural death when it was announced that Anna Bodden & Ryan Fleck would direct the project.

Ben Affleck Feels That Adam West Exemplified Heroism

Oscar winner Ben Affleck remembered Batman predecessor Adam West by calling him the exemplification of “heroism”. Adam West, who played the Caped Crusader on the classic 1960s TV series Batman, passed away here on Fri after a short battle with leukemia. He was 88. The Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice actor, Ben Affleck, took to Twitter to pay tribute to the late veteran. “Adam West exemplified heroism. Kind, funny and an all around great guy. Thank you for showing us all how it’s done. @therealadamwest,” he wrote.

Jessica Chastain Gets Married

Jessica Chastain married her Italian boyfriend Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo in his home country after being in a relationship for 5 years. The wedding took place on Sat in the Northern Italian city of Treviso at the Passi de Preposulo family estate, which is less than an hour away from Venice.

‘Loving Vincent’ Adds Major Territory Pre-Sales

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LOVING VINCENT

LOVING VINCENT ADDS MAJOR TERRITORY PRE – SALES

Edward Noeltner’s L A & Paris based Cinema Management Group (CMG) has added more key territories to the already fulsomely sold Loving Vincent, a portrait of Vincent Van Gogh, in the run up to the high profile animated feature’s world premiere on 13th Jun, 2017 at Annecy. In the most recent licensing pacts, Altitude Film Entertainment has acquired UK & Madman Entertainment rights to Australia & New Zealand. Latest territories to be sold on Loving Vincent also include Bulgaria, to A – Plus Films, Romania, to Ultraviolet, Turkey to Medyavizion & South Africa to AAA Entertainment. At Cannes, worldwide sales agent CMG closed US & English speaking Canada with Good Deed Entertainment along with Germany & Austria to Weltkino Filmverleih. Directed by Dorota Kobiela, one of Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch out in 2017 & Hugh Welchman, starring Douglas Booth, Jerome Flynn, Chris O’Dowd, Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan & Eleanor Tomlinson & produced by Academy Award winners BreakThru Films & Trademark Films, Loving Vincent has to date closed over 30 pre – sales deals repping 90 plus countries. Deals take in all of the top sales territories in the world – including the aforementioned US & Canada, UK & Germany – China (Bright East Film), CIS / Russia (CD Land), France (TF1 Studio), Mexico / Spain (Fabrica de Cine), Scandinavia & the Baltics (NonStop Entertainment) & South Korea (First Run).
MICHEL & EMMANUELLE ALL SET FOR JURY DUTY

French director Michel Hazanavicius, whose latest film Redoutable competed at Cannes, is all set to preside over the jury of 43rd Deauville American Film Festival. Hazanavacius’ jury will hand out 2 awards, the Grand Prize & Jury Prize, to films playing in competition in Deauville. “I’m extremely moved & honored to preside over this year’s Jury of the Deauville American Film Festival,” said Hazanavicius, whose Oscar winning film The Artist has been described as a love letter to Hollywood’s silent era. “Like half the planet, I was in part raised on American cinema and I am looking forward to spending these 10 days of binge watching the latest output. In cinema we trust!” Helmed by artistic director Bruno Barde, the Deauville festival complimented Hazanavicius on showing “an iconoclastic yet appealing style, revealing a concern to reach audiences without abandoning his artistic rigor since his beginnings as a filmmaker.” Meanwhile, Emmanuelle Bercot, the critically acclaimed actress / screenwriter / director whose filmmaking credits include Standing Tall, has been tapped to preside over the Revelation jury, which will honor an up – & – coming director.
TELCO GROUP ALTICE INKS DEAL WITH NETFLIX

Altice, Patrick Drahi’s telco group, has inked a multi – year deal with Netflix to start distributing US streaming giant’s content in France, Portugal, Israel & Dominican Republic. Starting Tues in France, Altice subscribers will have access to original series, films, documentaries, stand – up shows & children programming. The Netflix offer will roll out in Portugal, Israel & Dominican Republic in the following months. Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO, said Netflix offered more than 1,000 hours of new original programming this year, all of which will become available to Altice’s clients everywhere & anytime on a single service. Michel Combes, Altice CEO, said the pact with Netflix marked Altice’s strategy, which is increasingly focused on content. Combes also said the partnership will benefit both brands, Netflix & Altice. The pact with Netflix underscores the content – driven strategy which Altice – whose client base boasts an estimated 50 million subs – has recently started implementing with the launch of Altice Studio, as well as the acquisitions of sports, series & films rights & varierd deals with right – holders.

SOUVENIR NABBED BY STRAND RELEASING
Strand Releasing will be distributing Bavo Defurne’s Souvenir, music – filled romantic drama boasting Oscar nominated actress Isabelle Huppert and an original soundtrack by Pink Martini, in North America. Souvenir stars Huppert as a one – time European singing contestant who won fame years ago only to disappear in a factory job and to be re – discovered by a co -worker named Jean. The 2 collaborate as friends by going back on the road touring for a comeback, but things develop for both her career & their romance. Repped in international markets by Pathe, Souvenir marks the sophomore feature of Defurne, who previously directed North Sea, Texas & several short films which have all been handled by Strand Releasing. Souvenir is the latest pic in a string of movies starring Huppert which Strand Releasing has been handling. The outfit has previously released Anne Fontaine’s My Worst Nightmare, Guillaume Nicloux’s Valley Of Love & Catherine Breillat’s Abuse Of Weakness. The deal was done between Jon Gerrans & Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing & Muriel Sauzay & Themba Bhebhe of Pathe International.

UK’S CHANNEL 4 TO TELL TRUMP: AN AMERICAN STORY
Donald Trump’s visit to UK may be in question, but US president will be on British TV screens in a new documentary series, Trump: An American Story. The 4 part program for Channel 4 follows Trump across 5 decades as a businessman, developer, media star & politician before he reached the White House. The broadcaster said the series “tells the story of modern America through one man, showing how he has embodied many of the movements that have shaped US society from 1960s to the present day, from turbo – capitalism & political disenfranchisement to celebrity, reality TV & social media.” British broadcasting’s fascination with Trump, his background & motivations, is seemingly unabated. They have greenlit or bought several projects since he became president. The BBC has had programs including Donald Trump: The People’s Billionaire, ITV has shown documentaries including Trump: The First 100 Days & Channel 5 has shown one – offs including Who Is Donald Trump? Channel 4 has also had several factual shows about the president, including an episode of its Dispatches current affairs show entitled President Trump’s Dirty Secrets.
LINDSAY LOHAN JOINS RUPERT GRINT’S SICK NOTE

Lindsay Lohan has come on board the 2nd season of Sick Note, the upcoming British comedy series that also stars Rupert Grint, Nick Frost & Don Johnson. The 1st season of the show goes out this fall on Sky in a 10 pm slot & on Sky’s Now TV streaming service, with Season 2 currently in production. The comedy follows Daniel Glass as a down – on – his – luck insurance rep who is wrongly told he has a terminal illness and decides to keep the misdiagnosis from his family & friends. Lohan will play Katerina West, the daughter of Glass’s boss in the 2nd season, which is expected to bow in 2018. “One lie leads to the next in this unsettlingly brilliant comedy that will hook viewers in and have them on the very edge of their seats,” said Sky Head of Comedy Jon Mountague. “Filming for series 2 is already under way and we’re delighted to confirm Lindsay Lohan will be joining Rupert & Nick in this stellar comedy cast.” David Walliams & Miranda Hart’s UK production company King Bert is making Sick Note for Sky. It is written by Nat Saunders & James Serafinowicz.

JOHNNY HEADS TO UK’S GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

Johnny Depp will be at this year’s Glastonbury Festival in England to introduce 3 of his favorite movies and talk about his selections with filmmaker Julien Temple. Glastonbury, Britain’s premier music festival, is embracing cinema this year with a new Cineramageddon tent, curated by Temple. Depp, as guest of honor, will present The Libertine, Withnail & I Dead Man, and speak about what the films mean to him. Dead Man & The Libertine both star Depp. “This is one of those films that got lost in the shuffle,” he said of the latter. “It’s a film that a lot of people on which worked very hard, and one that I’m very proud of.” Speaking about Withnail & I, he said: “No film has ever made me laugh more, or filled me with me with so much joy… and dread! For me, this is perfect cinema. Genius.” Depp added that Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Man is an “epic visual poem.” He said: “It’s unlike anything else. A film which means many different things to many different people.” Organizers of Glastonbury say that Cineramageddon will have the biggest screen in UK & accommodate 2,000 moviegoers. It will, Glastonbury said, offer “a unique post – apocalyptic & nocturnal ambience in which to watch an unforgettable program of films.”

UK COORDINATES ANNECY DRIVE
A 15 strong UK delegation will be looking for buying, selling & recruitment opportunities at Annecy under Animation UK banner, in the most coordinated ever push by the country’s animation sector at French festival. There are a plethora of opportunities & challenges facing UK companies as they look to capitalize on the hard won UK tax break for animation on one hand, and tackle the uncertainty created by Brexit on the other. Against that backdrop, the likes of Aardman, Blue Zoo, eOne, Lupus Films & Magic Light Pictures will be part of Animation UK drive at Annecy, which has not traditionally been attended en masse by British. “This year we are planting a flag,” said Helen Brunsdon, Animation UK director. “People have heard about the tax credit & inward investment into UK but want to know how to do business with key companies.” The agenda for UK delegation includes buying & selling, with a large number of broadcasters in attendance, to talking about coproduction & sourcing international talent.

TURNER UPS EUROPEAN INVESTMENT
Turner said it has ramped up investment in European production by 30% in the past year and has also taken its biggest international original, The Amazing World Of Gumball, in a new direction, with a puppet based episode of the show that it will reveal at Annecy. The puppet based installment of “Gumball” will go out during season 5 of the show and also be the inspiration for a series of shortform spin – offs. Recently minted UK producer Blink Industries is making The Puppets and the short form content, which will be directed by BAFTA nominated Simon Cartwright & Baker Terry. Annecy attendees will get an exclusive 1st look at The Puppets at Annecy during a session at the festival looking at “Gumball.” The series is a mix of 2D & 3D animation with live – action elements, allowing the producers to work with a range of other creative’s, such as Japan’s Studio 4°C, whom they teamed with on an anime episode entitled The Fury.
EUROPEAN ANIMATION AWARDS BOW 8TH DEC 2017

Deeply inspired by Annie Awards, the 1st ever European Animation Awards will take place on Fri, 8th Dec, 2017 at Le Nouveau Siècle congress center & theater in central Lille, Northern France. The date will allow companies, if obliged or interested to attend European Film Awards 1 night later in Berlin, said Jean – Paul Commin, EAA secretary general. Aiming to highlight & celebrate not just the Best Animation Fedatures & TV shows of the year but also the key collective crafts vital to the sector, the Emile Awards – as the plaudits are also known, after and – will offer prizes in 16 categories. Though statues will be handed out to “Best Feature Film” & “Best TV / Broadcast Production”, the kudos range wide & far to take in background & character design, character animation, storyboard, soundtrack & writing. European Animation Awards will also be given in both film & TV.

NETFLIX TO LAUNCH TO THE BONE IN EUROPE

Anorexia drama To the Bone, to which Netflix picked up worldwide rights at Sundance, will have its European Festival Premiere at Italy’s upcoming Ischia Global Film & Music fest, with Ted Sarandos & stars Lily Collins & Alex Sharp expected to make appearances. To The Bone, the 1st feature film by prominent US TV writer – director – producer Marti Noxon, follows a 20 year old anorexic (Collins) who tries to get the medical help she needs at a group home. Keanu Reeves plays an unconventional doctor. The indie pic mixing dramatic & comic elements is based on the director’s own experiences with eating disorders and is produced by Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis, Karina Miller & Andrea Lervolino & Monika Bacardi, founders & co – chiefs of Italy’s Ambi Group. Collins & Sharp, who plays a young British dancer also struggling with anorexia, will be feted with Ischia’s rising star nods. Netflix snapped up To The Bone for a reported $8 million in Jan, 2017.
FOLIVARI & STUDIOCANAL LINK ON SEQUEL

Didier Brunner’s Folivari & Studiocanal, 2 of Europe’s major animation forces, have signed a joint development deal for a sequel to the Academy Award nominated Ernest & Celestine, as Studiocanal has also boarded SamSam, The Smallest Of The Great Heroes, produced by Dandelooo & Folivari. Both deals would see the titles, when they move into production, being sold internationally & distributed domestically in France by Studiocanal, a Folivari – Studiocanal arrangement already in place for the anticipated The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales, an anticipated animated feature that world premieres at this year’s Annecy Festival. In a separate move for Brunner whose movies – which take in The Secret Of Kells, Michel Ocelot’s Kirikou trilogy & Belleville Rendez – Vous – have scored 5 Academy nominations – Wild Bunch has boarded The Summit Of The Gods, handling international sales & domestic distribution in France.

OCTONAUTS STUDIO MAKING ANIMATED ADAPTATION
Irish studio Brown Bag Films is making an animated special based on a story from Angela’s Ashes author Frank McCourt. Angela’s Christmas is an adaptation of McCourt’s only children’s book and Oscar nominated Ruth Negga will voice the character of Angela’s mother. Lucy O’Connell, who voiced Tomm Moore’s Oscar – nominated Song Of The Sea, will voice Angela. Octonauts studio Brown Bag was acquired by Canada based 9 Story Media Group in 2015, and 9 Story Distribution International will sell Angela’s Christmas internationally. The half – hour film was written by Will Collins & Damien O’Connor. Ellen McCourt, Frank’s widow, is an executive producer on the project & Irish – American actor, writer & politician, Malachy McCourt, Frank McCourt’s brother, narrates. McCourt’s 1996 novel Angela’s Ashes, based on his early life in Brooklyn & Limerick, was adapted for the big screen in Alan Parker’s 1990 feature of the same name.
DENIS TAPPED AS FUTURE FRAMES MENTOR
Canadian director Denis Côté has been picked to mentor the young filmmakers who will be participating in Future Frames program at this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The intensive 3 – day program, an initiative of European Film Promotion body, gives film school students & graduates the opportunity to make contacts within the industry, learn from an established director, and present their work at the festival. This year’s 10 participants hail from Finland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovenia & Latvia, amongst other countries. Côté, who has more than 2 dozen feature & short films to his credit, will give a masterclass titled “A Question of Independence.” “Over the years, I’ve noticed that young aspiring filmmakers play with extremes: Either they are paralyzed by fear, or they show a considerable amount of arrogance thinking they don’t need the “short film” formative years in order to make their 1st masterpiece at 25 years old. I try to guide them in between these attitudes,” Côté told.

ANKAMA SELLS MUTAFUKAZ
France’s Ankama, whose Mutafukaz, world premiered at Annecy on 13th Jun. 2017, has licensed Japanese rights to the sci – fi action movie to Parco, an upmarket Japanese department store which operates a genre movie distribution operation. Closed via Ankama’s Asia distribution subsidiary PlanetNemo, the deal is crucial for Mutafukaz which, produced in association with Japan’s 4ºC Studios, twins a California West Coast sensibility and upscale anime manga style. It is one of the 1st big deals to go down on Mutafukaz which – with its hip-hop vibes, fantasy version of LA, downbeat humor, deadbeat heroes, street gangs & messianic Mexican wrestlers – is shaping up as one of the highest profile new movies at France’s Annecy Animation Festival this year. Acquired by Celluloid Dreams for worldwide sales outside Asia, Mutafukaz also serves as a flagship for the ambitions of Ankama. Originally carving out a market for its MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role – Playing Games,) & comic – books, the Roubaix based Ankama is continuing to raise its ambition in animation, diversifying from its original teen demography while aggressively courting digital platform distribution for new series.
GUILLAUME RUN RENARD TALKS INSPIRATION

At Annecy this year, if one is hoping to see a gritty, young adult, socially relevant & temporally accurate depiction of America, one should walk past Sony, Universal & Disney – Pixar and head to the world premiere of the French feature Mutafukaz. The Franco video game, comic book & animation producers of the film, Ankama, have brought to the big screen for the 1st time, the rich world of Dark Meat City, a Los Angeles allegory as 1st presented in 2003 Sundance nominated short turned comic book by the same name. Tasked with bringing the property to theaters, Ankama produced in association with Japan’s 4°C whose artistic input is clear when the film’s animation style is compared to their 2006 hit feature Tekkoninkreet. Ankama have been producing the Mutafukaz comics, amongst more than a dozen others, since 2006 in addition to their slate of video games like Wakfu & Dofus, both of which have also been adapted to animation.

UDI FOLLOWS JEAN – FRANÇOIS LAGUIONIE

Urban Distribution International (UDI) has boarded the animated project The Prince’s Voyage, Jean – François Laguionie’s follow – up to Louise By The Shore & The Painting. Featuring hand – drawn animation, The Prince’s Voyage follows an old monkey prince who finds himself lost & injured on an unknown shore, where he gets rescued by a young boy and sheltered by his parents, 2 scientists who have been exiled from their community for believing in the existence of other monkey civilizations. The animated fable tells the journey of this aging monkey who discovers a new civilization. The Prince’s Voyage is the latest in a string of auteur – driven animated features repped in international markets by UDI’s Urbanimation label, following Rémi Chayé’s Long Way North, Jan Bultheel’s Cafard and most recently Arthur de Pins & Alexis Ducord’s critically acclaimed Zombillenium, which premiered at Cannes in the special screenings section and is opening this year’s Annecy Film Festival.
AURÉLIEN READIES 1ST EVER ANIMATED FEATURE

One of Europe’s on – the – rise animation talents, France’s Aurélien Froment, also known as Aurel, is developing a 1st ever animated feature, Josep. Written by Froment & Jean – Louis Milesi, a director and regular scribe for Robert Guédiguian, Josep is produced by Serge Lalou & Anne -Marie Luccioni’s Les Films d’Ici Méditerranée, a production outfit founded in 2014 in Montpellier specialized in documentaries, with several animation projects in development. Les Films d’Ici, Paris based producer of Golden Globe winner Waltz With Bashir & La Fabrique Animation, which backed Jean – François Laguionie’s Louise En Hiver, will act as co – producers. A co – production with a Catalan company is under negotiations. Pitched at Cartoon Movie, Josep’s story is inspired by a true sketch artist born in Barcelona at the beginning of the last century. In a long life – spanning almost the whole century – Josep was a cartoonist, Republican soldier, a prisoner in a concentration camp, Frida Kahlo’s lover, an illustrator for US magazines & a Hollywood stage designer & painter.

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO BE REVIVED
The Brisbane International Film Festival is to be revived 3 years after its closure. The new festival moves to a new season and will be held from Aug, 2017. The festival’s program is to be co – directed by film curator Richard Sowada & Maxine Williamson. In Apri, this year, it was announced that the Brisbane Asia – Pacific Film Festival was to close after 3 editions. The BAPFF had been set up in 2014 to replace the Brisbane International Film Festival, which ran for 22 editions from 1992. That earlier move was explained as connecting festival & awards ceremony, and supporting the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, which the city of Brisbane committed to back after the awards event relocated from Gold Coast. The new Brisbane IFF, billed as 23rd, will be held at Palace Cinemas in Brisbane from 17th Aug, 2017 to 3rd Sept, 2917 at Palace Barracks & Palace Centro. It will showcase some 60 international & Australian films, and include collaborations with existing Queensland screen culture organizations including APSAs, a short film competition, panel discussions & seminars. Previously film director of APSAs & Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, Williamson is standing down from her role as artistic director at APSAs.
LACHLAN HALTS SUPPORT FOR TEN NETWORK

Lachlan Murdoch & entrepreneur Bruce Gordon have sent Australian commercial broadcaster Ten Network into a tailspin, withdrawing their credit support and prompting the company Tues to ask for trading of its shares to be halted for 48 hours. In a filing to the Australian Stock Exchange, Ten Network Holdings said that it had received letters from Illyria, Murdoch’s private investment company & Birketu, Gordon’s investment vehicle, withdrawing their backing. It is understood that the pair have provided $151 million (A$200 million) of guarantees. “That correspondence confirms that those guarantors do not intend to extend or increase their support for the company’s credit facilities beyond the term of the current facility which expires on 23rd Dec, 2017. TEN’s board is considering the position of the company in light of the position being taken by Illyria & Birketu and the range of restructuring & refinancing initiatives it has underway,” the company said.

SINGAPORE KURT RIEDER TO HEAD ASIA THEATRICAL

Veteran distribution & exhibition executive Kurt Rieder has been installed as 20th Century Fox International’s executive VP for theatrical in the Asia Pacific region. He will be based in Singapore and take charge from 19th Jun, 2017. The studio has not issued a public statement. But sources confirmed to Variety that an internal memo from Fox’s president of international theatrical, Andrew Cripps, has been circulated detailing Rieder’s appointment and a move by Fox’s regional theatrical office from Australia to Singapore. Rieder takes over from Sunder Kimatrai. The highly regarded Kimatrai had been with the studio since 1993, fulfilling roles in India, Singapore and later Sydney. He became the studio’s Asia – Pacific head in 2005. Moving the office to Singapore puts it closer to the center of Asian operations. In particular, it is closer to China, now the world’s 2nd largest theatrical market. The memo described Asia as “an incredibly important part of the world” and as “a key growth opportunity for us as a studio.”

GUSTAVO ON BRAZIL’S TITO AND THE BIRDS
Brazilian animated feature Tito And The Birds has recently reached its initial financing goal after winning one of the 2 prizes for animation from the Brazilian National Bank of Development (BNDES), with the other going to the Oscar nominated director of Boy And The World, Ale Abreu, & Luiz Bolognesi, co – director on Rio 2096: A Story Of Love And Fury. Featuring at this year’s Annecy Works in Progress after a productive campaign last month at Cannes, where it was showcased in Annecy Goes to Cannes, the film’s creators, Bits Productions, will look to keep the Brazilian cartoon mojo going, following in the footsteps of their fellow prize winners. For Bits, it will be its 1st ever animated project, making the move from live – action TV & cinema. Organizers of Brazil’s BIG Festival, the largest indie gaming fest in Latin America, there are also plans for a Tito And The Birds video game. Co – directing the film are screenwriter Gustavo Steignberg, Gabriel Bitar, & André Catoto.

CONFESSION OF MURDER TOPPLES BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Confession Of Murder, a crime drama about a serial killer who comes out into the open after the statute of limitations on his crimes expire, toppled Beauty And The Beast, which had headed the Japanese Box Office turnstiles for the previous 7 weeks. Distributed by Warner Japan, with & Tatsuya Fujiwara as the killer & Hideaki Ito as the frustrated detective, the film opened on 329 screens and earned $2.92 million on 234,000 admissions. It is expected to end its run around the $15 million mark. Opening at number 2 was Hirugao: Love Affairs In The Afternoon. Based on a hit TV drama about a married woman (Aya Ueto) who has an affair with a married man (Tatsumi Saito), the film made $2.67 million for distributor Toho. The film is also forecast to finish near the USD15 million milestones. Disney’s “Beauty” slipped to number 3. It scored $2.61 million, lifting its cumulative total to $99.7 million. That puts it as the 25th highest earning film ever in Japan, local or foreign.

CYBERAGENT LAUNCHING ANIMATION FUND

CyberAgent, a Tokyo based company involved in Internet advertising, media & game production, has announced the creation of a $27 million (JPY1 billion) animation fund in conjunction with its Cygames subsidiary. Scheduled to launch at the end of Jun, 2017 the CA – Cygames Anime Fund will be used to buy rights for anime streaming, as well as for game production & original animation development. One of the investment targets for the fund is AbemaTV, a CyberAgent Internet TV station that streams nearly 20 channels with a variety of content, including 700 theatrical & TV anime titles, free of charge. Amongst games in Cygames current line – up are Rage Of Bahamut, which has topped the Google Play sales section & Granblue Fantasy, which claims 14 million registered players.

ANNECY FEST SURGES IN SIZE YET AGAIN

Illumination Mac Guff’s Despicable Me 3, China, Disney – Pixar’s Coco & The Big Bad Fox And Other Tales look set to figure among highlights at this week’s edition of France’s thriving Annecy International Animation Film Festival, a Mecca for animation companies & creatives from Hollywood and the world over, which just doesn’t stop growing. In just 1 sign, its International Animation Film Market (MIFA) will add an extra day, kicking in 13th Jun, 2017 and moving from 3 to 4 days. MIFA accredited delegate numbers were tracking at 2,900 by last Fri, already up on the final 2016 tally go 2,850, said MIFA head Mickael Marin, who added that he hoped final participation would pass 3,000 for the 1st time ever. Extending ever more towards Annecy’s lake, exhibition floor space is also up 16%, vs. 2016. Driven by the increase in animation output in most parts of the world, including Africa, Marin said, delegate numbers have now grown 13 years in a row, since 2005, casting MIFA as a metaphor for the international animation scene at large and one of the most robustly growing industry events in Europe. Patrick Eveno, CEO of the Annecy Festival’s Citia organization, added that he expected 5% to 10% growth in Annecy Festival accreditation.
THE MUMMY TAKES $52 MILLION OPENING
Tom Cruise & The Mummy comfortably headed the Chinese Box Office turnstiles with a $52 million opening – significantly greater than the film’s weak performance in North America. Playing some 105,000 screenings per day from Fri to Sun, the gross total for The Mummy accounted for more than half of China’s total Box Office turnstiles collections. It scored $17.5 million on Fri, followed by $19.1 million & $13.9 million on Sat & Sun, respectively, according to data from Ent Group. The $51.8 million total, topped up by $1 million of previews, marked the 7th highest opening of the year, narrowly ahead of Beauty And The Beast, Logan, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 & Wonder Woman, in 2nd place, grabbed $13.5 million from close to 40,000 screenings per day. Its cumulative stands at $70.2 million after 10 days. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales added $7.49 million in its 3rd week. After 17 days, “Pirates” has managed $162 million, which The Mummy & Wonder Woman are unlikely to match. India’s long – legged Dangal scored a further $5.05 million in its 6th week. After 38 days, its cumulative is $179 million, an unprecedented score for a non -Hollywood, foreign language film in China. Behind the Hollywood summer trio and the Indian juggernaut, the top Chinese film of the week was romance How Are You? With a performance that weakened over its opening weekend, it scraped up $4.3 million for 5th place. The latest film in the “Doraemon” Japanese animation franchise took 6th place with $1.87 million, albeit suffering a big slump. After 13 days it has a cumulative of $19.7 million. No other title managed $1 million over the weekend. China’s Haunted Graduation Photo opened with $310,000. Love Without Words opened with $280,000. Sci – fi, thriller Monster Mayhem opened with $240,000. Long running comedy Running Man reentered the chart with $170,000.

SHANGHAI FESTIVAL COMPLETES COMPETITION LINEUP
Bille August’s Chinese made The Chinese Widow has been set at the opening night movie of the Shanghai International Film Festival. It replaces the previously announced Our Time Will Come, by Hong Kong auteur Ann Hui. No explanation for the change was offered by the festival, or Bona Film Group, producer of “Our Time,” or its international sales agent, Hong Kong based Distribution Workshop. The film is a wartime drama focusing on a woman school teacher and other youths who led the resistance movement during Japan’s WWII occupation of Hong Kong. It stars Taiwan’s Eddie Peng & Wallace Huo & China’s Zhou Xun as the female lead. Hui has been reported as conceiving the film as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from British colonial rule to China. It will open in China on the anniversary, 1st Jul, 2017 and in Hong Kong a few days later.

CONSTANTIN GOES INTO PRODUCTION
Constantin, Germany’s biggest movie company, has initiated production on S3D adventure film Dragon Rider, based on the bestselling novel by German writer Cornelia Funke & written by Johnny Smith, who penned the original screenplay & story for 2011’s Gnomeo & Juliet. One of the biggest independent cartoon movie breakouts from UK this decade, produced by Elton John’s Rocket Pictures, it earned $198 million worldwide & $100.0 million in US. Co – produced by Antwerp’s Cyborn 3D animation studio, and produced by Martin Moszkowicz & Oliver Berben, Dragon Rider is the next big animation play by Constantin Film, one of Germany’s foremost film & TV production – distribution forces. High – end by European standards, the 3D children’s fantasy adventure turns on Firedrake, a young silver dragon, Sorrel, a mountain brownie & Ben, a human orphan who search amongst the highest Himalayas for the Rim of Heaven, which can offer sanctuary for Firedrake’s kin, whose valley is made uninhabitable by a dam.

THE MUMMY’ BEATS THE VILLAINESS & WONDER WOMAN
The Mummy landed up top of the South Korean Box Office turnstiles, breaking Box Office turnstiles records Tues, when it opened in South Korean cinemas. It finished with $17.8 million after 6 days. With $6.57 million from 873,000 admissions on opening day, it beat opening records for local & foreign films previously held by Train To Busan & Captain America: Civil War. It accounted for 52% of total weekend Box Office revenue. Cannes Midnight screener, The Villainess debuted in 2nd. Opening on Thurs, the local action drama earned $3.36 million over 4 days. Wonder Woman slipped from top spot to 3rd, with a drop of 72%. The Warner Bros. release earned $1.77 million for a total of $13.4 million after 2 weekends. In 4th place, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales also dropped 70%. The Disney release earned $1.11 million for a total of $21 million after 3 weekends. Political documentary, Our President took 5th. It earned $996,000 between Fri & Sun for a cumulative $11.0 million after 3 weekends. With a drop of 91%, Fox International Production’s Korean language war drama Warriors Of The Dawn” slipped to 6th in its 2nd weekend. It earned $246,000, for a total of $5.34 million after 2 weekends.

OKJA SHUT OUT OF HUNDREDS MORE SCREENS
Lotte Cinema & Megabox, South Korea’s 2nd & 3rd largest cinema chains will not screen Okja, the Netflix fantasy drama that controversially bowed in competition at the Cannes Film Festival last month. The decision follows a similar refusal this week by CJ CGV, South Korea’s No. 1 exhibition chain, and means that native son Bong Joon – Ho’s film will be shut out of 93% of the country’s screens. Lotte & Megabox followed CJ CGV’s denial of screens on the grounds that Netflix’s plan for a day – & – date cinematic & online release flouts the usual 3 week hold – back before a film becomes available for streaming. CJ CGV calls the delay “an important business practice in Korea.” The company also contends that Netflix’s simultaneous opening policy disturbs the distribution ecosystem in South Korea. Bong, who told Variety last month that directing a Netflix backed film did not make “much difference for me as a filmmaker,” has not responded to requests for comment.

5paisa leveraging technology to enhance the attraction of discount broking beyond mere cost savings

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5paisa

Discount broking was a novelty item, a curio animal in the overall scheme of things of the Indian equity markets. However, the past 3-4 years have seen this curio concept take firm roots and grow faster in scale compared to the overall equity brokerage sector growth.

The reasons behind this are not far to seek. While most market observers talk of cost differential as the main reason, the fact is that cost cuts alone have never turned a market on its head. The online space is full of stories, from 1999 to 2-16, where businesses have offered service at lower costs, often at zero or negative costs, and none have been able to sustain. It is always the service element, at the price point, which makes the difference. So then what exactly is it about the discount broking business that can provide a good service experience?

The primary need is client convenience. Prakarsh Gagdani, CEO, 5paisa.com elucidates that account opening ease is a paramount need in the industry where a mere 3-5% of the population has demat accounts. Bank accounts, with the Jan Dhan trigger, are today around 40-45% of the population and that in itself is a challenging procedure for the financial non-literate population. Therefore, ease of procedure is the key. As Gagdani asserts, if documentation is in place, a client can have an account opened at 5paisa in an hour. Indeed, with the e-KYC process in place, hardly any physical signatures are needed and most of the work can be done on the basis of Aadhar, bank account documents and similar verifiable papers.

Likewise, the speed and ease of transaction in the case of a technology-driven discount broking business with minimal human interface is another influencer. Like in the case of account opening, speed, simplicity and convenience are big factors.
Cost is no doubt a vital influencer. From the investor viewpoint, the flat cost per transaction, irrespective of size is a cost saver. It also means that any investment advice given by the broker does not have any element of greed because the transaction fee is the same irrespective of the size of the transaction. With no push from the brokerage side, the individual will actually experience a more relaxed transaction. The equity market is rife with instances where the broker pressure actually unbalances the client and he loses sight of his original aims and gets into transactions which are regretted later.

Then comes the post-transaction processes, here again discount brokers have their digital interfaces in place. As Gagdani explains, when the MIS in the form of contracts and ledgers is put online and available on demand, the comfort factor is expanded. This process, which has much investment behind it, is a massive organisational convenience for both the company and the customer.

Everything said and done, the Indian equity market is absolutely ripe for the discount broking model. In the US equity market, where retail is 40% of total volumes, discount broking is 70% of the retail volumes, which indicates that it has a quarter of the total market. In India, by contrast, while the retail volume is comparable, discount broking is barely 7-8% of the total volume.

Therefore conceptually, given the growth visible in equities, the massive potential for rise in equity-holding households (as evinced by the gap in bank and demat accounts) and then the potential for discount broking as a proportion of total brokerages, the business case for discount broking is highly exciting.

With its multi-product offering and a platform giving much convenience to the client at any stage, 5paisa.com is definitely a differentiated player in the broking space. Apart from the discount broking services, it also includes other value-added products like mutual funds and insurance. 5paisa.com has invested around Rs.10 crore in its infrastructure, including in robotics. It has created a Robo Advisory platform, where investors get options for their investment allocations with zero or minimal human interface, in a very convenient and user-friendly manner.

Apart from the ease of account opening and operations, 5paisa.com also provides education on myriad aspects of the product bouquet that it offers to investors. It is effectively a full-service product offering to investors at the cost level of discount broking. 5paisa.com also intends to grow its product offering to other areas like personal and vehicle loans, where its technology investment can be properly leveraged for online transaction fulfilment.

Given the immense scope visible for discount broking and the differential position that 5paisa.com is creating for itself, it also offers tangible value for those investors who would want to have exposure to discount broking as an investment. This is because it is the first such business to be listed on any domestic exchange (as a spin-off from its parent).

Al Jazeera off the table in any Gulf crisis talks: FM

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Qatari news broadcaster will not be discussed in any negotiations to end blockade against Doha, says foreign minister.

Al Jazeera staff work inside the network's headquarters in the capital Doha on June 8 [Naseem Zeitoon/Reuters]

Al Jazeera staff work inside the network’s headquarters in the capital Doha on June 8 [Naseem Zeitoon/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera Media Network is an “internal affair” and there will be no discussion about the fate of the Doha-based broadcaster with nations that imposed a blockade on Qatar, its foreign minister says.

Reports have suggested countries behind the economic sanctions on Qatar – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and others – are demanding the closure of Al Jazeera, a media group that has been targeted in the Middle East because of its critical reporting.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris, France on Monday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he had no idea why the Saudi Arabia-led bloc of nations imposed a blockade on Qatar.

“It’s not about Iran or Al Jazeera,” he said. “We have no clue about the real reasons… Qatar is willing to sit and negotiate about whatever is related to Gulf security.”

But he said Qatar does not accept “foreign dictations”.

“Doha rejects discussing any matter related to Al Jazeera channel as it considers it an internal affair,” Qatar News Agency quoted the foreign minister as saying. “Decisions concerning the Qatari internal affairs are Qatari sovereignty – and no one has to interfere with them.”

After the crisis erupted last week, Saudi Arabia closed Al Jazeera’s bureau in Riyadh and halted its operating license, accusing the network of promoting “terrorist groups” in the region.

Jordanian officials quickly followed announcing the closure of the Al Jazeera bureau in Amman and the withdrawal of its operating license.

Egypt long ago kicked Al Jazeera out of the country after confiscating its Cairo bureau’s equipment.

The government of President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi has locked up several Al Jazeera journalists for months. Producer Mahmoud Hussein has been jailed in Egypt now for 175 days.

Journalist watchdog Reporter’s Without Borders has condemned the crackdown on Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera denounced the Saudis’ restrictions against it saying, “We call upon the government to respect the freedom of press and allow journalists to continue do their job free of intimidation and threats.”

Writing last week in the Hindustan Times, former online Al Jazeera editor Ruben Banerjee said it was clear why some nations are going after the media network during the Qatar crisis.

“To stifle the voice of Al Jazeera, which prides itself for being the ‘voice of the voiceless’, will be criminal,” wrote Banerjee.

“Like every other organisation, Al Jazeera suffers from cliques and cabals… But these blemishes notwithstanding, Al Jazeera remains a beacon in a region where freedom of expression is at a premium.”

Hundreds suffer from food poisoning in camp near Mosul

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Iraqi officials say at least two people have died after falling ill from an iftar meal in an IDP camp outside Mosul.

More than 750,000 people have been displaced from Mosul since October [File: Thaier Al-Sudaini/Reuters]

More than 750,000 people have been displaced from Mosul since October [File: Thaier Al-Sudaini/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

At least two people have died and hundreds more have fallen ill after suffering food poisoning in a camp for displaced Iraqis east of Mosul, officials said.

People started vomiting and some fainted after eating the fast-breaking iftar meal on Monday, lawmaker Zahed Khatoun, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s committee for displaced people told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

Iraq’s health minister told The Associated Press that a girl and woman died and more than 750 people were affected.

The food was provided by a non-governmental organisation.

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident, officials said.

The Kurdish news agency Rudaw, citing Erbil’s mayor, said the owner of the restaurant that made the food had been arrested.

The camp is located in al-Khazer on the road linking Mosul and Erbil and houses those displaced due to the ongoing offensive to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

According to the UN refugee agency, more than 6,000 people currently live inside the camp.

A US-backed military operation to retake ISIL’s last three remaining enclaves outside Mosul’s Old City began last month – the latest push in a major operation that began in October.

Aid groups have repeatedly expressed their concerns over the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee and are at risk of being caught in the crossfire.

Almost 10,000 people fled from Mosul’s northwest and the Old City every day during the last week of May, the UN said.

More than 750,000 people have been displaced from the city since October.

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